Craigellachie 16 Years Old 2009 Cask #206 (Signatory)

A 16 year old Craigellachie from the Pitlochry bottler Signatory Vintage, distilled in 2009, from cask 206, bottled at 55.8%, one of 305 bottles. Craigellachie sits above Telford's famous Spey bridge, a Speyside distillery of real muscle. It sits at the village of Craigellachie, where the River Fiddich joins the Spey by Telford's iron bridge.

It was run through the distillery's stills and old fashioned worm tubs, building the old fashioned Craigellachie style. A refill bourbon hogshead held it, keeping the meaty character to the fore. Through oxidative maturity esters concentrate, the worm tub weight turning to mango and a waxy depth. The robust make rewards long ageing, the meatiness giving way to tropical fruit. Most Craigellachie goes quietly into blends, a robust filler kept in part as single malt. The slow loss of the angel's share concentrates the oily, tropical core over the years.

Bottled at a cask strength 55.8%, it is rich. Malt, dried fruit and a savoury oil, with a soft vanilla from the oak. Soft tropical fruit and a waxy malt sit behind the cask. Tropical fruit, malt and a savoury oak see out the finish. This is one of Speyside's most robust single malts.